Network-adaptive function control method for dual-mode mobile terminal

ABSTRACT

A network-adaptive function control method is provided for a dual-mode mobile terminal. The network-adaptive function control method for a dual-mode mobile terminal supports communication via first and second-type networks includes registering at least one function as a network-adaptive; determining, when a function is requested to be activated, whether the requested function is the network-adaptive function. If it is determined that the requested function is the network-adaptive function, it if determined whether the mobile terminal is in the first-type network; and activating, if the mobile terminal is in the first-type network, the requested function in association with the first-type network. The network-adaptive function control method of the present invention allows registering portable IP network-friendly functions that are served only in a portable IP network domain but not in the cellular network domain, thereby restricting handover to the costly cellular network, resulting in reduction of communication cost.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application of a prior applicationSer. No. 11/977,316, filed on Oct. 24, 2007, which claimed the benefitunder 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Oct. 26,2006 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serialnumber 10-2006-0104280, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and handovers from anIP network to a cellular network. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to a network-adaptive function control method for adual-mode mobile terminal.

2. Description of the Related Art

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is an international standard forwireless applications such as e-mail, messenger, picture exchange, andmusic file download applications. However, WAP is disadvantageous withregard to issues such as a slow connection speed, inconvenient userinterface, and a high per-packet cost, thereby rendering WAP impracticalfor high traffic applications.

Recently, portable Internet service technologies have emerged that areexpected to overcome at least some of the aforementioned problems byemploying dual communication technologies, such as cellular/IP dual-modetechnologies, in a single handheld casing. However, the currentcellular/IP dual-mode mobile terminal has a drawback in performance inthat a handover from a IP network to a cellular network causes unwantedcellular network utilization cost, because of the departure from aportable Internet service domain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in part in an effort to solve atleast some of the above-mentioned problems, and to provide some of theadvantages described herein below. A network-adaptive function controlmethod for a dual-mode mobile terminal that is capable of controlling ahandover between heterogeneous wireless network domains, i.e. thecellular and IP network domains.

Also, the present invention provides a network-adaptive function controlmethod for a dual-mode terminal that is capable of restrictingutilization of a service in the cellular network domain, which is costlyin a cellular network domain, by using a cost-free IP network domain,thereby resulting in significant cost savings.

In an exemplary aspect of the present invention, the above and otherobjects are accomplished by a network-adaptive function control methodfor a dual-mode mobile terminal supporting communication via first-typeand second-type networks. The network-adaptive function control methodincludes registering at least one function as a network-adaptivefunction; determining, when a function is requested to be activated,whether the requested function is the network-adaptive function;determining, if the requested function is the network-adaptive function,whether the mobile terminal is in the first-type network; andactivating, if the mobile terminal is in the first-type network, therequested function in association with the first-type network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other exemplary objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will be more apparent from the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a universal mobilecommunication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofthe mobile terminal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an example of a screen image illustrating an IPnetwork-friendly function setting screen of the mobile terminal of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a network-adaptive function controlmethod for a dual-mode mobile terminal according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a network-adaptive function controlmethod for a dual-mode mobile terminal according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described withreference to the accompanying drawings in detail. The same referencenumbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or likeparts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structuresincorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the appreciationby a person of ordinary skill in the of the subject matter of thepresent invention.

In the following descriptions, the cellular network represents a GlobalSystem for Mobile communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), and/or anyother type of cellular network. Also, the mobile terminal located in thecellular network accesses a data server using the WAP.

The term “data communication information” refers to the information usedfor transferring an ongoing communication session from a network domainto another one when the mobile terminal crosses the boundary between thetwo network domains.

The data communication information typically includes items such ascommunication progress status, source address, data name, and storagepath in the mobile terminal.

In the following descriptions, it is assumed that the service chargesand authentication information for both the cellular and mobile IPnetwork are managed by a single operator. However, a person of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that the present invention is notlimited to the cellular and mobile IP network operator. The IP networkrepresented typically includes networks such as a wireless local areanetwork (WLAN), a wireless broadband (WiBro), etc.

The mobile terminal is enabled by an Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) thatprovides access to mobile services over unlicensed spectrum technologiesSince the handover between the IP network and the cellular network istypically similar to that between the WLAN and GSM/GPRS/UMTS under thecontrol of the UMA Network Controller (UNC), the present invention canbe adapted for the interoperability between GSM/EDGE Radio AccessNetwork (GE-RAN) and the WLAN specified in the UMA standard. In order tosimplify the explanation, the portable Internet service and UMA networkranges is called the first domain and the cellular network is called thesecond domain in the following embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a universalmobile communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the universal mobile communication system typicallyincludes a mobile terminal 100, a portable IP network 200, a cellularnetwork 300 of which radio coverage typically overlaps that of theportable IP network 200, and a data server 400.

The mobile terminal 100 estimates the received signal strength from thebase station of the portable IP network 200 and determines whether themobile terminal 100 has departed (i.e. moved away) from the portable IPnetwork 200 on the basis of the received signal strength.

The mobile terminal 100 accesses the data server 400 through one of theportable IP network 200 and the cellular network 300.

In order to enable communication with the portable IP network 200 andthe cellular network 300, the mobile terminal is provided with an IPnetwork interface module and a cellular network interface module.

Still referring to FIG. 1, when, based on received signal strength, itis determined that there is a departure from the area of the portable IPnetwork 200 determined while communicating with the data server 400through the portable IP network 200, the mobile terminal 100 performs ahandover to the cellular network 300 for maintaining the communicationwith the data server 400. On the other hand, if the mobile terminal 100detects a received signal strength sufficient to communicate with theportable IP network 200 while communication with the data server 400through the cellular network 300, the mobile terminal 100 performs ahandover to the portable network 200. The handover between the portableIP network 200 and the cellular network 300 is performed on the basis ofthe data communication information stored in the mobile terminal 100.

The portable IP network 200 provides the mobile terminal 100 located inits radio coverage with a wireless Internet access and communicationservices. That is, the portable IP network 200 connects the mobileterminal 100 located in its radio coverage to the data server 400.

The portable IP network 200 is typically defined, for example, by aportable IP network base station 202. The portable IP network basestation provides an access service for the mobile terminal 100 to thedata server 400.

The cellular network 300, via base station 302, connects the mobileterminal 100 to the data server 400 when the mobile terminal 100 hasdeparted (left) from the portable IP network 200. A person of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that, in a non-limiting example, as thereceived signal strength continues to be reduced, a handover maypreferably occur before the mobile terminal is completely out of therange of the portable IP network so there is no loss of communication.

The data server 400 stores various data such as game, still and motionpictures, and MP3 files and allows the mobile terminal 100 to downloadthe data. The data server 400 can be, for example, a contents providerserver and an e-mail server.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofthe mobile terminal of FIG. 1.

Referring to the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mobile terminal100 typically includes an IP interface unit 110, a display unit 120, aninput unit 130, a storage unit 140, a cellular interface unit 150, and acontrol unit 160 having a received signal strength calculator 161.

The portable IP interface unit 110 provides communication with theportable IP network 200 such that the mobile terminal 100 downloads datafrom the data server 400 via the portable IP network 200.

The display unit 120 can be implemented with a display such as, forexample, liquid crystal display (LCD) and displays various data andoperational status of the mobile terminal on a display screen. A personof ordinary skill in the art should understand and appreciate that anytype of display screen suitable for a mobile terminal can also be used.

In this exemplary embodiment, particularly, the display unit 120displays a menu screen listing function items such that a user canselect a function as the IP network-friendly function to be activatedonly in the portable IP network domain. The control unit 160 configuresthe mobile terminal such that the IP network-friendly function selectedon the menu screen activates in the portable IP network domain.

The input unit 130 can be implemented with at least one of atouchscreen, a touchpad and stylus, and/or a keypad, each providing aplurality of function keys and alphanumeric keys. The input unit 130also transfers the signals generated by a key input to the control unit160. It is also possible that at least some of the functions of theinput unit could be voice activated.

In this exemplary embodiment, particularly, the input unit 130 isimplemented to permit the selection of functions in association withfunction items listed on the menu screen by key manipulation.

The storage unit 140 stores application programs for operating themobile terminal and data generated during the operations.

In this exemplary embodiment, particularly, the storage unit 140 storesthe data communication information 141. The data communicationinformation 141 includes the progress status, source address, data name,and storage path in the mobile terminal.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the cellular interface unit 150 includes aradio frequency (RF) transmitter for up-converting and amplifyingsignals to be transmitted and an RF receiver for low noise-amplifyingand down-converting the received signals. The cellular interface unit150 is responsible for radio communication with the cellular network300.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the cellular interface unit150 is typically configured to maintain data communication between themobile terminal 100 and the data server 400 via the portable IP network200 after the frequency handover from the portable IP network 200 to thecellular network 300.

The control unit 160 controls general operations of the mobile terminal100.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the control unit 160 checks whether an IPnetwork-friendly function has been set. The control unit 160 alsomonitors the frequency channel of the portable IP network 200 to detectwhether the mobile terminal 100 departs from the portable IP network200. The departure of the mobile terminal from the portable IP network200 to the cellular network is determined on the basis of the receivedsignal strength from the base station 201 of the portable IP network200.

FIG. 3 is an example of a screen image illustrating an IPnetwork-friendly function setting screen of the mobile terminal of FIG.2. This screen image would typically be displayed by a display screen ofthe display unit 120.

Referring to FIG. 3, the IP network-friendly function setting screen 301lists the function items with respective check boxes such that each ofthe function items is set to operate in the portable IP network domainby checking in the check box through the input unit 130.

The IP network-friendly functions can be grouped, for example, by thetype of communication, such that the group of data communicationfunctions can be enabled or disabled according to the user setting.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operational example of anetwork-adaptive function control method for a dual-mode mobile terminalaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the mobile terminal 100 is turned on so as to be ina standby mode (S401) and the control unit 160 (shown in FIG. 3) of themobile terminal 100 detects an input of a function key for executing aspecific function of the mobile terminal 100 (S411).

At step (S421), a decision is made, in that if the function key input isdetected, the control unit 160 determines whether the function indicatedby the function key is registered as an IP network-friendly function. Inorder to determine whether the function is registered as an IPnetwork-friendly function, the control unit 160 compares the sequencegenerated by the function key input with reference sequences of the IPnetwork-friendly functions registered through the IP network-friendlyfunction setting screen of FIG. 3.

If the function indicated by the function key input is not an IPnetwork-friendly function (the answer to step 421 being negative), thecontrol unit 160 performs the function (S441).

However, if the function indicated by the function key input isdetermined as one of the IP network-friendly functions (the answer tostep 421 being affirmative), the control unit 160 determines whether themobile terminal is located within the portable IP network domain (S431).

If the mobile terminal is located within the portable IP network domain,the control unit 160 performs the IP network-friendly function requestedby the function key input (S411).

Whether the mobile terminal is located within the portable IP networkdomain is determined on the basis of the signal strength received fromthe base station of a portable IP network.

If the mobile terminal 100 is not located within the portable IP networkdomain, the control unit 160 rejects performing the IP network-friendlyfunction requested by the function key input and repeats step S401.

With reference to the example of the IP network-friendly functionsetting screen 301 of FIG. 3 in which the messenger, wireless Internet,and download functions are checked to be registered as the IPnetwork-friendly functions.

Accordingly, to summarize, if a messenger function activation key isinput at step S411, the control unit 160 determines whether themessenger function is one of the IP network-friendly functions at stepS421. Since the messenger function is the IP network-friendly functionas shown in FIG. 3, the messenger function operates only within theportable IP network domain. Thus, the control unit 160 determineswhether the mobile terminal is located within the portable IP networkdomain at step S431. In order to determine that the mobile terminal isin the portable IP network domain, the control unit 160 determineswhether the received signal strength received from a base station of aportable IP network is greater than a threshold value.

If it is determined that the mobile terminal 100 is within the portableIP network domain, the control unit 160 activates the messenger functionand otherwise repeats step S401.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operations of anetwork-adaptive function control method for a dual-mode mobile terminalaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the mobile terminal 100 operates a datacommunication function, such as the messenger, wireless Internet, anddownload functions, in the portable IP network domain (S501).

The control unit 160 monitors the communication channel with theportable IP network and determines whether the mobile terminal 100 hasdeparted from the area of the portable IP network domain (S511). If thereceived signal strength is less than a threshold, the control unit 160determines that the mobile terminal is departed from the portable IPnetwork domain. The monitoring from the control unit 160 may be eitherperiodic or continuous.

If at (S511) it is determined that the mobile terminal 100 has departedfrom the range of the portable IP network domain, then at (S521) thecontrol unit 160 stores the data communication information of the datacommunication function and determines whether the data communicationfunction is registered as an IP network-friendly function (S531).

The data communication information includes, for example, thecommunication progress status, source address, data name, and storagepath in the mobile terminal. In the case of the download function, thedata communication information includes the name of the file, address ofthe server providing the file, download progress, etc.

At (S541), if the data communication function is registered as an IPnetwork-friendly function, the mobile terminal 100 ends the datacommunication function. The data communication information can then beused to restart the IP network-friendly function in consideration of theprogress of the communication in the previous session, when the mobileterminal 100 enters the portable IP network domain again. In oneexemplary aspect of the present invention, when the mobile terminalreturns to within the portable IP network the mobile terminal 100 maydisplay a prompt asking the user if they want to continue with previouscommunication, such as continuing to finishing downloading theinformation. It could be a period of time before the mobile terminal hasreturned to range to use the portable IP network and the downloadedinformation may no longer be relevant or desired by the user. The mobileterminal may also display a prompt asking the user whether the partiallydownload information should be erased to free up storage.

If the data communication function is not registered as an IPnetwork-friendly function, the mobile terminal performs a handover tothe cellular network (S551) and then maintains the data communicationfunction (S561).

Although the procedure is depicted to end with the IP-network friendlyfunction termination, the handover process and function restart process(S551 and S561) can be performed with a specific option even outside theportable IP network domain.

According to the present invention, the handover from the portable IPnetwork to the cellular network is formed seamlessly such that thecommunication breakage is not perceived.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described indetail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood that many variationsand/or modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught whichmay appear to those skilled in the present art will still fall withinthe spirit of the present invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

As described above, the network-adaptive function control method for adual-mode mobile terminal according to the present invention allowsregistering portable IP network-friendly functions that are served onlyin a portable IP network domain but not in the cellular network domain,thereby restricting handover to the costly cellular network, resultingin a reduction of communication costs. Also the registering of at leastone network-adaptive function may includes providing a changeabledefault regarding one of (i) prompting of resumption of thenetwork-adaptive function is desired, or (ii) automatically resuming thenetwork-adaptive function upon a detected return of the mobile terminalto within a communicative range of the first-type network.

What is claimed is:
 1. A network application control method of anelectronic device supporting communication using a first network and asecond network, the method comprising: detecting a user input forselecting at least one network application from among a plurality ofnetwork applications displayed on the electronic device; registering theat least one selected network application to perform communication usingboth the first network and the second network; performing communicationfor the at least one selected network application using both the firstnetwork and the second network; and performing communication for atleast one other network application, from among the plurality of networkapplications and that is not selected by the user, using one of thefirst network and the second network according to a respectiveselectable default if the electronic device is beyond a communicativerange of one of the first network and the second network, wherein eachof the plurality of network applications has the respective selectabledefault for selecting one of the first network and the second network.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network is at least one of aWireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, a Wireless-Broadband (Wi-Bro)network, and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and wherein thesecond network is a cellular network.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe second network is at least one of a Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi)network, a Wireless-Broadband (Wi-Bro) network, and a Wireless LocalArea Network (WLAN), and wherein the first network is a cellularnetwork.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of thecommunication of the at least one other network application occurs ifthe electronic device is in the communicative range of the firstnetwork.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising stoppingcommunication of the at least one other network application if theelectronic device is not in the communicative range of the one of thefirst network and the second network indicated by the changeabledefault.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising determiningwhether the stopping of the communication of the at least one othernetwork application interrupts a communication session that includespartially downloaded information, and resuming the communication sessionusing the partially downloaded information if the stopping of thecommunication includes storing of the partially downloaded information.7. The method of claim 5, further comprising: displaying, on a displayunit, a prompt for enabling the stopped communication of the at leastone other network application to perform communication when theelectronic device returns to the communicative range of the one of thefirst network and the second network according to the respectivechangeable default; and performing communication of the at least oneother network application according to another user input correspondingto the displayed prompt.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the stoppingof the communication of the at least one other network applicationcomprises: determining a received signal strength of the one of thefirst network and the second network; and determining whether theelectronic device is within the communicative range of the one of thefirst network and the second network according to whether the receivedsignal strength is greater than a threshold.
 9. The method of claim 5,further comprising: displaying, on a display unit, an inquiry as towhether to resume the stopped communication of the at least one othernetwork application upon detecting a return of the electronic device toa communicative range of the one of the first network and the secondnetwork; and resuming communication of the at least one other networkapplication if a user selects resuming communication of the at least oneother network application according to the displayed inquiry.
 10. Anelectronic device for supporting communication using a first network anda second network, the electronic device comprising: A display unitconfigured to display a plurality of network applications; an input unitconfigured to detect a user input for selecting at least one networkapplication from among the plurality of network applications displayedon the display unit; a control unit configured to register the at leastone selected network application to perform communication using both thefirst network and the second network, and to perform communication forat least one other network application, from among the plurality ofnetwork applications and that is not selected by the user, using one ofthe first network and the second network according to a respectiveselectable default if the electronic device is beyond a communicativerange of one of the first network and the second network, wherein eachof the plurality of network applications has the respective selectabledefault for selecting one of the first network and the second network.11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first network is atleast one of a Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, a Wireless-Broadband(Wi-Bro) network, and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and whereinthe second network is a cellular network.
 12. The electronic device ofclaim 10, wherein the second network is at least one of aWireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, a Wireless-Broadband (Wi-Bro)network, and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and wherein the firstnetwork is a cellular network.
 13. The electronic device of claim 10,wherein the control unit is configured to control performing ofcommunication of the at least one other network application if theelectronic device is in the communicative range of the first network.14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the control unit isconfigured to control stopping communication of the at least one othernetwork application if the electronic device is not in the communicativerange of the one of the first network and the second network indicatedby the changeable default.
 15. The electronic device of claim 14,wherein the control unit is configured to determine whether the stoppingof the communication of the at least one other network applicationinterrupts a communication session that includes partially downloadedinformation, and wherein the control unit is configured to resume thecommunication session using the partially downloaded information if thestopping communication includes storing of the partially downloadedinformation.
 16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the controlunit is configured to control displaying, on the display unit, a promptfor enabling the stopped communication of the at least one other networkapplication to perform communication when the electronic device returnsto the communicative range of the one of the first network and thesecond network according to the respective changeable default, andwherein the control unit is configured to control performing ofcommunication of the at least one other network application according toanother user input corresponding to the prompt.
 17. The electronicdevice of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to determinea received signal strength of the one of the first network and thesecond network, and wherein the control unit is configured to determinewhether the electronic device is within the communicative range of theone of the first network and the second network according to whether thereceived signal strength is greater than a threshold.
 18. The electronicdevice of claim 14, wherein the control unit is configured to controldisplaying, on the display unit, an inquiry as to whether to resume thestopped communication of the at least one other network application upondetecting a return of the electronic device to the communicative rangeof the one of the first network and the second network, and wherein thecontrol unit is configured to resume communication of the at least oneother network application if a user selects resuming communication ofthe at least one other network application according to the displayedinquiry.
 19. A method of operating a plurality of network functions ofan electronic device supporting communication using a first network anda second network, the method comprising: receiving a request forexecuting a requested function of the electronic device; determiningwhether the requested function is a network function; determining, if itis determined that the requested function is the network function, astate of a changeable default of the network function indicating whetherthe network function performs communication using both the first networkand the second network; and stopping communication with the secondnetwork for the network function if the state of a changeable defaultindicates that the network function does not perform communication usingboth the first network and the second network and if the electronicdevice is beyond a communicative range of the first network.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the using of both the first network and thesecond network comprises handing-over between the first network and thesecond network.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first network isat least one of a Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, aWireless-Broadband (Wi-Bro) network, and a Wireless Local Area Network(WLAN), and wherein the second network is a cellular network.
 22. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the second network is at least one of aWireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, a Wireless-Broadband (Wi-Bro)network, and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and wherein the firstnetwork is a cellular network.
 23. The method of claim 19, furthercomprising performing communication by the stopped network function ifthe electronic device is in the communicative range of the firstnetwork.
 24. The method of claim 19, further comprising determiningwhether the stopping communication of the network function interrupts acommunication session that includes partially downloaded information,and resuming the communication session using the partially downloadedinformation if the stopping communication includes the partiallydownloaded information.
 25. An electronic device having a plurality ofnetwork functions for supporting communication using a first network anda second network, the electronic device comprising: an input unitconfigured to receive a request for executing a requested function ofthe electronic device; a controller configured to determine whether therequested function is a network function, to determine, if it isdetermined that the requested function is the network function, a stateof a changeable default of the network function indicating whether thenetwork function performs communication using both the first network andthe second network, and to stop communication with the second networkfor the network function if the state of a changeable default indicatesthat the network function does not perform communication using both thefirst network and the second network and if the electronic device isbeyond a communicative range of the first network.
 26. The electronicdevice of claim 25, wherein the using of both the first network and thesecond network comprises handing-over between the first network and thesecond network.
 27. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the firstnetwork is at least one of a Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, aWireless-Broadband (Wi-Bro) network, and a Wireless Local Area Network(WLAN), and wherein the second network is a cellular network.
 28. Theelectronic device of claim 25, wherein the second network is at leastone of a Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, a Wireless-Broadband(Wi-Bro) network, and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and whereinthe first network is a cellular network.
 29. The electronic device ofclaim 25, wherein the controller is configured to perform communicationby the stopped network function if the electronic device is in thecommunicative range of the first network.
 30. The electronic device ofclaim 25, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether thestopping communication of the network function interrupts acommunication session that includes partially downloaded information,and wherein the controller is configured to resume the communicationsession using the partially downloaded information if the stoppingcommunication includes the partially downloaded information.
 31. Anelectronic device for providing communication using a first network anda second network, the electronic device comprising: a display unit; acontroller configured to control the display unit to display a pluralityof network functions, at least one network function being selectable toperform communication using both the first network and the secondnetwork, and to stop communication with the second network for the atleast one network function if the at least one network function isunselected to perform communication using both the first network and thesecond network and if at least on network function is not operable usingthe first network.